RodleyRam

7 hours ago, MadAmster said:

A "comedy" of errors. Starting with the starting XI, maybe? Some of our not so young players looked off the pace and pace was the catalyst in the game. They were quicker just about everywhere. Hourihane and NML being the 2 "worst" IMO with Nat taking the biscuit. He roasts full backs for fun, usually, but I don't think he did his man a single time before his HT substitution. He totally forgot about tracking back too. On half a dozen occasions I was shouting at the screen for him to track his man. The first time led to their first goal, his "man" providing the assist. A totally preventable goal. No surprise that CH and NML were off at HT and Foz was on a yellow and had had a knock to his knee so probably wise to sub him off too.

Their 2nd saw our defence fail to follow the movement of an opponent and he nodded home, totally unmarked. I know I'm old fashioned when it comes to things like strikers hunting in pairs. I also remain old school when it comes to defending corners. A man at the post would have prevented their equaliser.

Their 3rd? How often have we seen us fail to properly clear the ball and pay the price? Nels and Cash got in each other's way, ball only partially cleared, came back in, Jones was stood in an offside position, one of our defenders got his head to it and it fell to Jones who poked it between JWs legs... because our player had purposely made contact with the ball, Jones was no longer deemed offside, in perfect accordance with the current offside Law.

All too often, as has happened quite a lot this season, they had players allowed to make 40 or more yards without a challenge. Get into 'em I say.

The better side on the day won. We get back up, dust ourselves down and we start over again.

NML was so innocuous that it felt like he was subbed off at half time? Might want to check your facts there m'lud.

It's almost like you didn't actually watch the game before commenting but I would never suggest such a thing...

I personally think he's better playing deeper in a two or as part of a three that has some real bite. I've said for ages we need a Eustace type player to allow Bird and others to focus on what they're best at.

Everyone has a price but I would be holding out to keep him. He can knit things together and has a really good appreciation for finding space and movement.

With the personnel we have, I think we have to play 3 in the middle against better sides as Hourihane and Bird are not quick or tough enough to combat pace and runners.

We were way off our best today and Peterborough were allowed to control the game. I thought it was a mistake keeping the same side to be honest, we definitely needed to have an extra pair of legs in the middle to allow us to control possession and stem the inevitable flow of runners. Felt like it was one hand too many in quick succession for a lot of the lads and they just looked a half years off the pace all game.

It's a shame we couldn't take the kind of performances from Wigan and Oxford into this one but we were going to lose at some point. They were the better side and comfortably one of the better sides in the league, so it is what it is. 

We have to respond to this now and bounce back. Lots of games to play and autos now well within reach after this incredible run. I'm very positive about our chances. 

Wilson looked absolutely knackered when he came off, wouldn't be surprised if Ward starts against his old club in his place. Otherwise unchanged. Pepper the box to exploit vulnerability of reserve keeper etc.

Posh are an unpredictable for me but hopefully we take the energy and confidence from Friday into this one to start 2024 with a bang. 

Super Derby, Super Rams!

Rams 1 - 0 Posh

FRGS Sibley

Nervy stuff

50 minutes ago, Elwood P Dowd said:

Oxfords tactic of bringing off their attackers for defenders and defending their lead didnt work well for them. If you remove your own threat youre simply inviting the opposition to attack you, you normaly have to have a well drilled defence, to defened for a full 45 minitues.  

The guy in front of me was screaming at their manager about this. I think we absolutely harried them with our press and forced them to give us possession but they had absolutely no out ball. Very naive I thought but happy they took that approach!

Got home a while ago, if just finished chewing my wife's ear off about the game. She has zero interesting in football but I think she recognised the need to nod along until the adrenaline wore off.

First 20 I didn't even think we were bad. Two goals from breaks that hit the right lines and bam we're staring down the barrel.

I was about 10ft away from the dugout and Warne was bouncing away to get them to force the pace of the game. The press was outstanding tonight and we moved the ball really well most of the game. He was urging them on and really positive throughout.

Cashin was outstanding in all departments, we have to find a way to keep hold of him in January. Bird looked more comfortable sitting deeper and Hourihane looked much better further forward. Fozzy, Nyambe and Nelson were excellent. Barks improved second half and Wilson, Collins and NML didn't give them a moments peace. Subs outstanding too. All in all jolly good.

Hopefully they can take that energy into Monday and hound Peterborough to death too.

Didn't know there were so many Rams sitting silently with the home fans. We all did incredibly well to go undetected after a performance like that, it was tough to keep schtum and not join in the bounce! Great noise from the travelling fans tonight, even at 2 down. 

Great night to be a Ram!

OUTSTANDING win. Fully deserved too, we were utterly dominant. That's a statement victory if ever there was one. 

First away game of the season for me, just down the road. We have been on top the whole first half to be honest. Two goals on the break, vulnerable with Hourihane and Bird in the middle and two poor challenges, two set piece goals. No excuses for that but not reflective of the threat they have which was fairly limited to counter attacks.

Barks hasn't been at the races so far, expect him to be subbed off at half time. Hourihane hasn't been at his best but stepped up as the half went on. Hourihane and Bird outnumbered.

Our goal was coming, hit the bar, few dangerous crosses across the face with the goal wide open. It's well within our ability to pull this back and win it, just got to watch the sucker punch on the break. Next goal will decide the 3 points, early one for us would be a real boost.

Sitting by the dugout with the home fans, Warne is screaming at them to up the tempo.

COYR

Nelson - consistently excellent 

NML - when he's good, we're good

Cashin - all round modern centre half 

In that order for me. It's nice to see other players coming into form to take on the baton, hopefully they can help to take the form forward.

Oxfart 1 - 2 Rams

FRGS Wilson

Wigan 0 - 2 Rams

NML FRGS 

MSc D.Litt MBE NWA ABBA DCFC

5 hours ago, RodleyRam said:

I'd be both surprised and delighted with 8 points from these three games

5 hours ago, YorkshireRam said:

5 hours ago, AndyinLiverpool said:

I'd always be surprised by 8 points from 3 games.

2 hours ago, plymouthram said:

Bloody Hell !!! Leave the Christmas Sherry alone

Well that was a little too easy... Come on guys, I was being jovial!

I'd be both surprised and delighted with 8 points from these three games

I've only just twigged B4 was the same age as me and it's really hit me. Amazing how many people he influenced in his all too short time. Definitely puts things in perspective and makes me want to look on the bright side much more often and be less of a grumpy sod! Rams are doing you proud lad.

2 minutes ago, Jimbo Ram said:

Sunderland 3-2 or the away 1-0 win at Huddersfield…..great times 😊🐏

Yeah Sunderland is the one I'm thinking of that's up there as one of the most memorable moments in my Rams career (although clearly not that memorable as I couldn't remember who it was against or what the score was... I've drunk a lot of whisky recently but I'm sure that's not related)

8 minutes ago, Foreveram said:

Less than 2,000 tickets left for home fans now, 241 in the West stand and 273 in the East stand.

With reportedly 1,900 Lincoln fans there should be around 27,000 in attendance.

That's a great effort, let's hope it's one of those special pre-Christmas games that put the fear into the rest of the division. I remember a game under TBE when we went top before Christmas, it was a real statement and magical atmosphere (I'm aware we can't go top tonight before anyone chimes in... Boo Warne Out etc.)

3 keys to the autos

1. Grind out results when the nights are dark and the going is tough. This is an area we typically struggle with and it's about bouncing back from a bad result as much as anything else. I think we have a solid base, so I don't expect us to lose many but we need to find a way to get 3 points rather than 1 when teams make it really difficult and don't find ourselves 3 or 4 games without a win.

2. Keep our players as fresh as possible. We need to rotate key players where the opportunity arises and limit injuries as much as we possibly can.

3. Add quality in January. There is a balance to be struck between injecting some impetus and destabilising. Last year's window was hugely undercooked, I hope we learn that we simply have to add some depth and quality in January. I would like to think we can keep hold of Bird and Cashin but if that's not possible I do think we need to replace them AND add one or two.

Although no-one really wants to accept it the 4th point is that we need a massive slice of luck...

3 hours ago, RoyMac5 said:

You are so pleasant.

I note you're not refuting what he says though 😜

2 hours ago, YorkshireRam said:

Thought Bird did okay, it's becoming more apparent for him with each passing game when others simply aren't on his wavelength- thought that was the case Saturday. 

Fornah adds energy, and I think that's most apparent when contrasted against Hourihane's style of play. He's also got excellent close control. He's a typical #4 to me, box to box. It seemed for Reading that he often played the furthest back of a 3 and I'd like to see him tried there over Hourihane at some point, but that's tricky because of the captaincy situation. 

The midfield balance still isn't quite right. Hourihane will go from running a game (Barnsley) to looking like a total passenger in the middle of the park, but that position/role needs consistency. Think 13/14 once Eustace came in how much more solid we looked as a team... it feels like that type of player is what the midfield's currently lacking. 

Agreed. Our midfield has been crying out for a Eustace type player for ages. I can see the merit in playing Hourihane as captain and for game management but I just don't quite think he's got the physical presence or the pace to compensate for it. When he's good he's really good but I don't think he's ever going to dominate in that deep role or quite creative enough to play as quarter back.

I like look of Fornah and Bird has obvious strengths the balance is just a bit off in the middle for me. We have a number of all rounders with strengths in some areas but I don't think there's clear enough separation/specialists.

Rams 3 - 0 Lincoln

FRGS Collins

15 hours ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Wildsmith

Nelson   Cashin

Fornah   Bird

Ward   Wilson   Sibley   Mendez-Laing   Barkhuizen

John-Jules

 

It's that kind of negativity that will see us stagnate under PW.

Drop Cashin for Collins, one at the back is more than enough.

4 hours ago, kevinhectoring said:

But I explicitly said that the two criteria most sought after in the perfect owner are dosh and good governance     The fact we want both of those things (and a few more) is good reason to start looking sooner rather than later. We have seen what damage can be caused by a hurried process to find a new owner 

I understand the point but the last 'hurried' sale was from a position of total fragility hence why it went to s*** multiple times. We were a basket case attracting basket cases or a white knight, fortunately we got the latter. There's a fine line between success and failure, boom and bust. I guess I'm happy with us being boring for a bit and being run properly before we seek the next billionaire who gambles the club we love for a shot at the big time.

With DC I would argue we have a long way to go to out ourselves into a position of strength to sell and we should be inwardly focussed by building our own sustainability etc.

Once we are in that place, a buyer can add value. I don't see us being in that place for two years at least and if we are sustainably run and an attractive proposition in our own right then we should have the pick of suitors.

I accept at some point we will sell, I just think openly planning for it right now would be a sign of desperation but that's just my gut response. I think I have just had enough of all that drama, I am happy with the status quo and a period of stability. A future sale should happen because it's the right decision for the club long term rather than something we're desperately seeking to do right now. 

9 hours ago, kevinhectoring said:

DC has been perfect for restoring the culture of the club. We needed that 

His family fortune - low hundreds of millions - might be enough. But it’s low for top club owners and here’s the problem. It’s not a fortune made by him. He’s a second generation custodian of it. So he will not spend with ambition. We saw this last summer. We might see it in January. The stated 5 year plan certainly shows only very modest ambition. I’d think that bar a catastrophic run of results, any move to sack Warne is unlikely simply because of the cost. And when we gain promotion I fear we will not even begin to compete with the parachute brigade - not under DC. 
 

Plenty of fans on here are saying: money doesn’t matter, success is more about player recruitment and good football management. Well of course those things matter too, but history and common sense indicate money certainly matters greatly. ( I think many of those fans might actually be saying they wish it didn’t matter so much; and I’m with them on that.)

The reason focus is needed is that our glory days are behind us: if we languish in this div for long, and we could, we become a div 1 club. Our gates shrink and our grand old club becomes a decrepit grand hotel on the seafront of a fading seaside town. And with the rise of the Asian billionaires, more and more of the clubs we are competing with are owned by seriously wealthy people, who will spend and some of who will be successful.
 

It’s not ‘disingenuous’ to say that many of our fans don’t care about that perfect owner. You have a bundle of posts above this one where people say: why should Clowes look for a wealthy owner when money doesn’t matter ; and why do we need a wealthy owner when all I want is a club to support ?

Who is that perfect owner? I have said that I reckon the owner most likely to bring ambition and good governance would be a US sports franchise owner or possibly a long term US institutional investor (like Birmingham’s owner). An institutional investor with a shorter investment horizon (eg a private equity fund) would be less ideal. That said, there would be Asian and other billionaires out there who could take us to the top, but that’s a much more high risk owner. I certainly think you want a single person or entity in control. 
 

Perhaps some soft marketing of the club is on-going, who knows? Some posters seem to think so
 

Finding the right owner for the long term needs planning and care - it’s a hard thing to do and it matters. I hope someone is getting on with it 

I think you can understand why so many fans don't really want to think about the next owner and will want to avoid an 'ambitious' billionaire who just throws money at the club though. Been there, done that, got the points deduction.

There are as many, if not more, pitfalls of having a club that suddenly has an epic injection of cash. Lots of clubs have landed themselves in a mess as a result of this, and money doesn't necessarily buy success at all, there are as many examples of things going tits up as there are of Champions League trophies.

The whole fabric of the club changes, the culture gets thrown out of the window and decisions are made seemingly based for PR rather than football reasons. You only have to look at Birmingham for an example of that, there are many more where everything that came before gets thrown out of the window just because someone is willing to throw some money around on players.

I don't disagree that DC will want to sell at some point but given that his stated values include integrity and sustainability, I would seriously hope that the eventual sale will be done with utmost care to retain the stability and culture of the club that he will have built from the ground up.

I don't think you should be surprised that loads of us don't really want to engage with any club ownership chat at the moment. We should know more than most how chasing the dream can come crashing down so I for one hope that DC is with us for a good few years before we get back into the circus tent.

Rams 0 - 1 Wycombe

Sucker punch